I started flying in 2007 at 39 yo after a lifetime of dreaming about it. School, marriage, kids and career kept me from starting sooner, but I finally did. It began with the usual rental 172’s for primary training, then progressed to a flying club that had a 1975 182P, which I used to get my instrument rating. Once I had that, I searched for a partnership in something faster and cooler. I found a group of 7 (6+me) that owned a 1974 A36 Bonanza, which quickly became the best plane I’d ever flown and by far my favorite. The Bonanza served us well for several years and the group of owners were great. My problem was that I wanted true spontaneity and the ability to fly a plane to my vacation home on the Olympic Peninsula for regular weekend stays without feeling guilty that I was tying up the plane.
In 2021 I was ready to get my own. I bumped into a guy on the ramp in Napa, CA that had a 58P and he let me look it over. I told him that that I would love to have a plane like his someday. He gave me some unsolicited sage advice from a senior pilot/owner. He said “Son, sometimes in life you just have to do what you want and damn the consequences”. 
I bought N52HC in Georgetown Texas from a broker who had taken it on trade for a King Air C90. It was in good condition, but had high time engines and needed some avionics. I’ve been working on it ever since and now I have the plane I’ve always wanted.
My wife and I use 52HC to traverse the west coast regularly, Palm Springs, Arizona, Oregon, Idaho, etc. My most common mission is a 15 minute flight from Seattle (KBFI) to our second home in Port Townsend (0S9). I have a hangar in both locations. It sure beats taking the ferry across the Puget Sound, especially on busy weekends.
I have two adult kids, daughter and son, both married. My daughter has two girls and they are my most treasured passengers!
Nice to meet you all.
